[PGT] Ducks beat Flames 6-4

[St. Pats]

Every goal seemingly looked the same. Guy standing in front screening the Flames goalie. Defense looking lost in front of the net. Ducks players going to the net unimpeded. Hiller sucks but our defense is sad.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Personally I would look to re-sign Hudler, because I doubt you'll fetch equivalent or better value in a trade and he does still have good chemistry on line 1. That's something that might not come in return either.

His poor play was likely due to injury issues, and he still generates offensive chances and points. If you can get him for a decent price I think you take the chance with keeping him.

He's reportedly looking to get 7 mill / season. At that price you don't even think about re-signing him.

[Hackey]

Obviously you won't get Hudlers value in a trade but you almost never do when dealing UFA's. The return isn't why you trade him it's because you likely will not re-sign him so you might as well get something for him. Hudler will likely want a deal that doesn't make sense for the club. The team has bigger needs than a small skilled forward who puts up 50pts. If you can get an extension that makes sense before the deadline sure but if not, 100% trade him.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Obviously you won't get Hudlers value in a trade but you almost never do when dealing UFA's. The return isn't why you trade him it's because you likely will not re-sign him so you might as well get something for him. Hudler will likely want a deal that doesn't make sense for the club. The team has bigger needs than a small skilled forward who puts up 50pts. If you can get an extension that makes sense before the deadline sure but if not, 100% trade him.

Exactly.

Quite frankly I'd move Russell as well (I don't hate him as much as some on here). If there's a mutual interest in bringing him back next year at an affordable price, re-visit it on July 1st. In the meantime, get whatever assets you can from now until the deadline.

[flamesfan1297]

Mised the game because I had to work. How did Nakladal do today?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by flamesfan1297

Mised the game because I had to work. How did Nakladal do today?

Took a minor he shouldn't have, otherwise solid in his zone, looked awesome In the offensive zone including a Gio-esque pinch to the front of the crease, and looked great on the powerplay holding the puck in and moving it around.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Meh...I wouldn't go as far as GranteedEV. He was very dependable all over the ice. Nothing flashy, but was decent on the power play. He looked nervous offensively at times, not wanting to make a mistake. He'll get better with more playing time.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Meh...I wouldn't go as far as GranteedEV. He was very dependable all over the ice. Nothing flashy, but was decent on the power play. He looked nervous offensively at times, not wanting to make a mistake. He'll get better with more playing time.

Great compared to the likes of Dennis Wideman, Engelland, etc. He's not an offensive defenseman or a shut down guy to my eyes, but could find a niche.

[CroFlames]

Mean beard though.

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by badradio

Losing Hudler is going to be a bigger loss than people might think. Had a less than stellar season, but I don't see anyone in the org filling his role any time soon. Next year could be worse than this year.

Hate losing Hudler, but the team needs to get bigger. Hudler plays way tougher in front of the opposition net way better than Monahan, but his size is just outmatched by that are 1.5x his size. If only Monahan can play like that. Flames need to get big up front and especially in the back end. They're just way too soft and they really don't have anyone who is punishing. I really miss Regehr and Sarich when no forwards liked to into the Flames' zone.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by dieHARDflameZ

He's reportedly looking to get 7 mill / season. At that price you don't even think about re-signing him.

Yep, just like Giordano reportedly asking $9mil/yr this is totally what we'd have to pay to re-sign Hudler.

[taxbuster]

Gio seems to, once again, be back to having a tough time. He's missed passes (often), lost way too many pucks at the blueline (either out of position on the PP, or just bobbles them) and generally seems tentative. I don't question his heart, but he seems to be playing a shyer game than he used to - and that has hurt the Flames badly when he's on. Injured/hurting? Scared of being injured again?

Most of the mistakes, though, seem to be mental. Maybe the whole team is in a funk.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by CSharp

Hate losing Hudler, but the team needs to get bigger. Hudler plays way tougher in front of the opposition net way better than Monahan, but his size is just outmatched by that are 1.5x his size. If only Monahan can play like that. Flames need to get big up front and especially in the back end. They're just way too soft and they really don't have anyone who is punishing. I really miss Regehr and Sarich when no forwards liked to into the Flames' zone.

Indeed. The reality is the Flames are stuck in the Pacific against big, strong, physical teams like the Ducks, Kings, Sharks. We just don't have the size and strength up front or on defense to compete at this time. In an ideal world when you have little Gaudreau in your top 6 I don't think you can afford to have another small guy (Hudler). In the top 6 right now only Bennett plays a power game. Frolik has some size and can't be shoved off the puck easily. Monahan has some size but doesn't play a very powerful game yet and may never. We need a power forward or two in the mix to help stack up against the size of our division rivals.

On defense we lack that big, strong, tough, punisher who can play top 4 minutes without hurting you. Engelland is our closest to this at the moment.

Luckily at the top end of the draft we've got some wingers with skill and size (Puljujarvi, Laine, Dubois, Gauthier) a couple power forwards (Tkachuk and Jones) and dmen with size, skating, skill and physicality in Chychrun and Sergachev. Desperately need another top player with size, preferably one who plays a physical game.

[ScorchyScorch]

I'm pissed at Treliving for doing absolutely nothing to aid the team this season. We have plenty of future coming. I'd like a little "now" given due diligence. And no action was taken to fuel a team that has the personnel to be 10-20 points ahead of where they are now, but clearly underachieved particularly out of the gate. Instead they sat on three goaltenders too long, which killed the first month and a half of their season and allowed a bottom of the league powerplay and penalty kill to go unaddressed, despite months of inadequacy.

Has Burke been working on his tan since october? He could've stepped in at any time.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

Darren Haynes:

#Flames coach Bob Hartley noted that he liked Jakub Nakladal's game today. Said the d-man, who played 12:28, "Handled himself very well."

Good to hear from the coach.


He had every opportunity out there tonight to prove himself.

He drove to yhe net , played phycical, had multiple chances on the pp and multiple chances with the extrq attacker.

He looked real solid tonight. Gotta believe when they didn't give him a chance last game he simply was not ready after his recall.

He didn't look like he knew what to do his first game and the coaching staff saw that and sat him to simplu watch and learn in the best seat in the house. Seems to uqve payed off at least in this game.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by ScorchyScorch

I'm pissed at Treliving for doing absolutely nothing to aid the team this season. We have plenty of future coming. I'd like a little "now" given due diligence. And no action was taken to fuel a team that has the personnel to be 10-20 points ahead of where they are now, but clearly underachieved particularly out of the gate. Instead they sat on three goaltenders too long, which killed the first month and a half of their season and allowed a bottom of the league powerplay and penalty kill to go unaddressed, despite months of inadequacy.

Has Burke been working on his tan since october? He could've stepped in at any time.

What would you have him do? Overpay for a goaltender?

As much as goaltending is a problem for this team, it is not the solution either.

As for special teams, that's all on the coaches.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yep, just like Giordano reportedly asking $9mil/yr this is totally what we'd have to pay to re-sign Hudler.

That's not what I'm saying, at all. I just don't see Hudler as a long term piece and he wants both term and money.

He has been a ghost up until the past ten games. He was incredible last season no doubt, but based on this season he's not close to worth the number he's reportedly looking for.

If you can get anything of value for him at the deadline, I think you make that move every day and twice on Sundays.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

What would you have him do? Overpay for a goaltender?

As much as goaltending is a problem for this team, it is not the solution either.

As for special teams, that's all on the coaches.

I agree a capable goaltender is not the only help this team needs, but man would it go a long way in helping things out.

[ScorchyScorch]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

What would you have him do? Overpay for a goaltender?

As much as goaltending is a problem for this team, it is not the solution either.

As for special teams, that's all on the coaches.

For starters, begin the season with two goaltenders, not three. And even so, should've sorted it out way sooner than it was.

Make a move to acquire Bernier when he was sputtering early and got demoted. Massive upgrade on Hiller with room to improve in the future. At least could've made a capable 1b/backup and help bridge the gap until one of the prospects could step in.

Let go of Gelinas and bring in a candidate with a track record to address the absolutely unacceptable special teams.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by ScorchyScorch

For starters, begin the season with two goaltenders, not three. And even so, should've sorted it out way sooner than it was.

Make a move to acquire Bernier when he was sputtering early and got demoted. Massive upgrade on Hiller with room to improve in the future. At least could've made a capable 1b/backup and help bridge the gap until one of the prospects could step in.

Let go of Gelinas and bring in a candidate with a track record to address the absolutely unacceptable special teams.

It takes two teams to make a trade.

Sure we could trade for Bernier... then we'd have 4 goalies under contract.

And Treliving wanted Gillies to play significant minutes in Stockton.

So if he sends one of Hiller or Ramo down to start the year, and now add in the acquisition of Bernier, that simply doesn't happen. Nobody was going to trade for Ramo or Hiller to open up a spot.